Letsile Tebogo and Sifan Hassan were named World Athletes of the Year at the 2024 awards ceremony in Monaco, following outstanding performances in their respective disciplines.
Tebogo, 21, made history by becoming Botswana’s first Olympic gold medalist at the Paris Games, where he broke his own record in the men’s 200 meters. After receiving the male Athlete of the Year award, Tebogo expressed his gratitude, saying, “It feels amazing. It feels good to know that what you have been putting in throughout the year is now giving you some of the fruits that you have been waiting for.”
Hassan, who earned the female Athlete of the Year honor, also thanked her supporters. “Thanks to the fans and everybody who voted,” she said. “I never thought I was going to win this one because it was such a crazy year. It’s not only me. All the athletes are amazing.”
Hassan’s win came after she claimed her first global marathon title at the Paris Olympics, adding to her victory in the 2023 London Marathon.
A moment of silence was held in memory of Kelvin Kiptum, the marathon star who was honored at last year’s ceremony but tragically passed away in a road accident earlier this year.
